Adams National Historical Park is a National Historical Park in Massachusetts. This guide combines the park's official information with computed sunrise, sunset and Milky Way times, satellite climate data and nearby photo locations.
Sunrise, sunset & golden hour
At Adams the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 57° (ENE) at the June solstice and 122° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 304° (WNW) in June to 239° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 71° in summer but only 24° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:11 AM | 7:55 AM | 3:53 PM | 4:37 PM | 242° | 9h 26m |
| February | 6:42 AM | 7:21 AM | 4:37 PM | 5:17 PM | 254° | 10h 35m |
| March | 6:57 AM | 7:34 AM | 6:14 PM | 6:51 PM | 268° | 11h 54m |
| April | 6:04 AM | 6:42 AM | 6:48 PM | 7:25 PM | 284° | 13h 21m |
| May | 5:24 AM | 6:04 AM | 7:18 PM | 7:59 PM | 297° | 14h 35m |
| June | 5:08 AM | 5:50 AM | 7:40 PM | 8:23 PM | 303° | 15h 15m |
| July | 5:21 AM | 6:03 AM | 7:38 PM | 8:20 PM | 301° | 14h 58m |
| August | 5:52 AM | 6:31 AM | 7:08 PM | 7:47 PM | 290° | 13h 55m |
| September | 6:25 AM | 7:02 AM | 6:19 PM | 6:56 PM | 275° | 12h 31m |
| October | 6:57 AM | 7:35 AM | 5:26 PM | 6:04 PM | 259° | 11h 07m |
| November | 6:35 AM | 7:17 AM | 3:42 PM | 4:24 PM | 246° | 9h 48m |
| December | 7:07 AM | 7:52 AM | 3:28 PM | 4:13 PM | 239° | 9h 07m |
Computed for the park's reference point (42.2554, -71.0116); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Adams, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 4.2 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 19° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 9 (inner-city sky), so expect visible sky glow; drive away from towns for better results.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| February | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| March | 4:24 AM – 5:14 AM | 0.8 | 15° |
| April | 2:16 AM – 4:16 AM | 2.0 | 18° |
| May | 12:26 AM – 3:16 AM | 2.8 | 19° |
| June | 10:36 PM – 2:46 AM | 4.2 | 19° |
| July | 10:26 PM – 1:26 AM | 3.0 | 19° |
| August | 9:34 PM – 11:24 PM | 1.8 | 18° |
| September | 8:31 PM – 9:21 PM | 0.8 | 15° |
| October | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| November | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| December | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
9 Estimated Bortle 9 — Inner-city sky. Only the Moon, planets and a few bright stars are visible.
Weather & best time to visit
Be prepared for hot, humid weather during the summer months. The historic homes are not air conditioned. While the visitor center remains open all year, the historic homes are generally closed from approximately November 1 through April 30. Winters in New England often feature low temperatures and snowy/icy conditions. Please exercise caution when visiting the park. The Visitor Center may close during inclement weather.
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show September as the clearest month (about 51% average cloud cover) and May as the cloudiest (64%). July is the warmest month and January the coldest, which matters for gear, snow access and how long batteries last at night.
Average cloud cover (%)
Average high (°F)
Photography permits, drones & fees
Permits. Under federal law (54 U.S.C. 100905), still photography in National Park Service areas needs a permit only when it (1) takes place where members of the public are not allowed, (2) uses models, sets or props that are not part of the location's natural or cultural resources or administrative facilities, or (3) would cause the park to incur additional administrative costs to monitor the activity. Ordinary visitor and most landscape photography needs no permit. Commercial filming rules are separate and have changed in recent years — confirm current requirements with the park before a paid shoot.
Drones. Launching, landing or operating unmanned aircraft (drones) is prohibited in National Park Service units under a 2014 Superintendent's closure (36 CFR 1.5), except where a park has issued specific written approval. Flying from outside the boundary over park land can also violate park rules and disturb wildlife.
| Entrance fee | Cost (USD) |
|---|---|
| Entrance - Per Person | $15.00 |
Fees as published by the NPS when this page was built — confirm on nps.gov before you go.
Getting there
Traveling on U.S. Interstate 93, take exit 7 - Route 3 South to Braintree and Cape Cod. Take the first exit off Route 3 south - exit 42. Follow signs toward Quincy Center. Continue straight on Burgin Parkway. Turn right onto Dimmock Street. After one block, turn right onto Hancock Street. The National Park Service Visitor Center, located at 1250 Hancock Street, is on your left. Validated parking is in the Presidents Place garage accessed via Saville
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Guided Tours
- Self-Guided Tours - Walking
- Living History
- First Person Interpretation
- Junior Ranger Program
- Park Film
- Shopping
- Bookstore and Park Store
Nearby parks
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